EP4530229A2 - Device and method for the order-based provision of individual goods for a plurality of orders from a packing location - Google Patents

Abstract

A device is used for the order-oriented provision of individual items (2) of a plurality of orders (15) at a packing station (14) of an overhead conveyor system (1). The device (13) has a conveyor track (18; 18a; 18b) with a conveyor device (11, 30) for the overhead conveying of the individual items (2), an unloading station (12) for unloading the individual items (2), a feed opening (19) for feeding the individual items (2), and a discharge opening (20) connected to the feed opening (19) for the purpose of providing individual items (2) of a first order (15) at the packing station (14), as well as a parking area (27) for parking individual items (2) of a second order (15) at the packing station (14).

Description

The present patent application takes priority over the German patent application DE 10 2018 209 266.4 the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The invention relates to a device and a method for the order-oriented provision of individual goods of several orders at a packing station of an overhead conveyor system.

Individual items from a goods receiving area and/or a warehouse can be transported individually in a conveyor system using transport bags. The transport bags loaded with individual items are transported to a packing station, where they are unloaded from the transport bags and collected for packing. When all individual items for an order are present at the packing station, the order can be packed and transported away. To ensure that individual items from different orders are not mixed up, individual items from a subsequent order are only unloaded at the packing station once the previous order has been completely processed. During this waiting time, the packing station is blocked. The conveyance of individual items in such a system is inflexible. The conveyance rate is reduced. In particular, the conveyance rate of the overhead conveyor system depends on the processing speed at the packing station, which is mainly manual.

It is the object of the present invention to make the conveyance of individual goods, in particular in an overhead conveyor system, more flexible and efficient.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a device having the features specified in claim 1, by a suspended conveyor system with the features specified in claim 11 and by a method with the features specified in claim 12.

According to the invention, it was recognized that a parking area for parking individual items of an order at a packing station of a conveyor system, in particular an overhead conveyor system, enables increased flexibility. Individual items that are transported to the packing station in the overhead conveyor system can be delivered to a conveyor track of a device. The device can also comprise multiple conveyor tracks. The device can be used for shipping packaging in e-commerce. An order in e-commerce typically comprises three to four individual items. The device can also process orders with multiple individual items. An order consisting of a large number of individual items, in particular more than 10 individual items, in particular more than 100 individual items, in particular more than 1,000 individual items and in particular more than 10,000 individual items, can be divided into multiple conveyor tracks at the device in order to efficiently provide the individual items at the packing station. The individual items are fed to the conveyor track via a feed opening and conveyed to a discharge opening connected to it by conveyor technology. The individual items are provided at the discharge opening in an order-oriented manner. The parking area allows for the temporary buffering of individual items from a subsequent order while the individual items from a previous order are still being processed at the packing station. A conveyor track can be a conveyor shaft, a conveyor chute, a spiral chute, and/or a belt conveyor. The feed opening of a conveyor shaft, particularly a closed one, is the end of the conveyor shaft at which the individual items enter the conveyor shaft. Accordingly, the discharge opening is the opening of the closed shaft at which the individual items can be removed. In the case of a conveyor shaft, particularly an open one, In the case of a conveyor chute or spiral chute, or in the case of a belt, the feed opening and discharge opening are the points at which the individual items are fed or discharged onto the respective conveyor track. For example, the feed opening is the upstream end of the belt, and the discharge opening is the downstream end. The type of conveying from the feed opening to the discharge opening is irrelevant. Conveying can occur automatically, particularly due to gravity. Conveying can also occur using a powered conveyor. The conveyor track specifies a conveying direction that is oriented from the feed opening to the discharge opening.

The device has a conveyor device with which individual items, in particular each in a transport bag, can be conveyed in a hanging manner. At an unloading station, the individual items can be unloaded from the transport bags, in particular automatically. At the unloading station, the transport bags are in particular opened automatically so that the individual items fall downwards out of the transport bags due to gravity. The individual items can automatically pass through the feed opening into the conveyor track. At the packing station, the individual items are packed according to order and then transported away. It is in particular possible for the transport bags to be unloaded at the unloading station while the transport bags are being transported along a transport direction. For this purpose, an unloading station corridor can be defined, in particular in the unloading station, within which the automatic unloading of the transport bags takes place. The length of the unloading corridor depends in particular on the transport speed of the transport bags and/or the size of the feed openings. It is particularly advantageous if the individual items of an order are pre-sorted, in particular order-oriented, and fed to the device, i.e. in particular pre-sorted, before being delivered to the conveyor track. It is particularly advantageous to reduce the time span between the first individual item of an order arriving at the packing station and the last individual item of this order arriving at the packing station. This reduces the time span in which the conveyor track is filled with the individual items of the order and is thus blocked for subsequent orders. The overall utilization of the device is increased. According to the invention, the device is also suitable for enabling so-called target point sorting in that the individual items that are delivered unsorted to the device are sorted by means of the device and assigned to the various delivery openings depending on the order. The device enables intermediate buffering of individual items at the packing station. In particular, the device also enables sorting of the individual items according to orders.

A device according to claim 2 simplifies the separate loading of individual items from different orders. The device comprises at least two conveyor tracks. The number of conveyor tracks and their allocation to the packing stations can be variable. The individual items of a first order are delivered to a first conveyor track and the individual items of a second order to a second conveyor track. The first and second conveyor tracks are physically separated from one another and are designed in particular as separate conveyor shafts, conveyor chutes, spiral chutes and/or belts. This makes it possible for individual items of the second order to be delivered to the second conveyor track while the individual items of the first order are still being delivered to the first conveyor track and/or are still being processed in the packing area. In particular, it is not necessary for the individual items to already The items are conveyed to the device in an order-oriented, i.e. sorted, manner. A so-called target location sorting can take place at the device, which represents a target location.

A signaling element according to claim 3 signals to an operator, in particular at the packing station, the delivery opening at which the individual items of a complete order are located. The operator can process this order next. In particular, it is conceivable to indicate to the operator, by means of a control unit that is in signal communication, in particular bidirectionally, with the signaling element, which order is to be processed, i.e., packed, first. The signaling element enables an optical, acoustic, and/or other type of signal to enable, for example, technologies such as pick-by-light, pick-by-voice, and/or pick-by-vision at the packing station.

In addition to or alternatively to the signal element, a retaining element can be provided to prevent the operator from unauthorized removal of individual items from an order at the dispensing opening. The retaining element is, for example, a mechanical separating device, which can be designed in particular in the form of a flap that cannot be opened manually, a basket, or a spacer for the operator. The retaining element prevents the processing of orders that should not or cannot yet be processed because, for example, they are incomplete, have a low priority, and/or are to be delivered with a delay. Such a design is particularly necessary when conveying individual items that require a high level of process reliability, such as in the pharmaceutical industry.

A device according to claim 4 enables a compact design of the conveyor track and parking area. The parking area can be integrated into the conveyor track using a separating element. The separating element is in particular a mechanical separating element, in particular in the form of a pivoting flap or a slide. By means of the separating element, the connection from the feed opening to the discharge opening along the conveying direction can be interrupted at least temporarily. This makes it possible to discharge individual items of a subsequent order into the conveyor track while the individual items of the previous order are still being processed at the discharge opening. Because the individual items of the subsequent order are prevented from being conveyed to the discharge opening by the separating element, mixing of the individual items of different orders is reliably prevented.

The separating element can also be designed as a switch flap. In such a design, the conveyor track has, in particular, one feed opening and two discharge openings, with the individual items of the first order being collected at the first discharge opening and the individual items of the second order being collected at the second discharge opening. Such a conveyor track is particularly uncomplicated if the individual items are already delivered to the conveyor track in an order-oriented manner, i.e. sorted according to orders. In this case, all individual items of the first order are first fed to the first discharge opening, then the switch blade is switched, and finally the individual items are fed to the second discharge opening. It is also conceivable for the switch blade to be in bidirectional signal communication via a control unit in order to change the switching position of the switch blade depending on the individual items fed to the feed opening, so that the individual items in the conveyor track are sorted according to the first and second orders.

Multiple conveyor tracks according to claim 5 enable particularly high flexibility in handling and sorting individual items, as well as a high throughput rate in goods transport. The conveyor tracks serve as a buffer to compensate for fluctuations in the number of prepared and packed orders. This buffer function is particularly advantageous when the number of occupied and free conveyor tracks is monitored and made available to the system operator. Based on this information, the system operator can add or subtract operators.

The compact arrangement of the feed and discharge openings allows for unloading of individual items from the transport bags and packing of individual items into orders in a space-saving manner.

A stop element according to claim 6 ensures a defined provision of the individual items at the discharge opening. The stop element can be a pivoting flap or a slider at the discharge opening that opens when the individual items are to be packed. The opening of the stop element can also be automated. The stop element can also be a retaining strip, which prevents uncontrolled further transport of the individual items, particularly at the end of an inclined slide or an inclined shaft.

The stop element can in particular be used in addition to or alternatively to the retaining element.

Inclined designs of the feed opening and/or the discharge opening according to one of claims 7 and 8 simplify the automated feeding and removal of individual items into and out of the conveyor track.

An embodiment of the conveyor track according to claim 9 enables particularly cost-effective conveying of individual items along the conveyor track. In particular, automatic, gravity-driven conveying is possible.

A sensor according to claim 10 enables flexible operation of the device. The sensor can, in particular, detect the dropping of an individual item from a transport pocket of the overhead conveyor system into the conveyor track of the device. Additional sensors can be arranged along the overhead conveyor system and the device to detect the respective position of the transport pocket. The combination of the known identity and position of the transport pocket and the confirmation of the dropping of an individual item by the sensor is sufficient to detect the completeness of an order in a conveyor track.

The sensor can also be used to signal to the control unit whether the assigned conveyor track is empty or already occupied with individual items from an order. For this purpose, additional sensors can be arranged along the conveyor track, particularly in the area of the discharge opening. This can, in particular, prevent an operator at the packing station from removing an incomplete batch of individual items from an order. For example, if the operator releases the conveyor track after removing the individual items and the sensor at the discharge opening still detects individual items, a corresponding error signal can be provided. The sensor can be designed to be particularly simple, since the clear identification of the individual item is not important. It is sufficient, when the sensor detects that at least one individual item is located at the discharge opening. The sensor is in particular in bidirectional signal communication with a control unit. It is possible to monitor and influence the flow of individual items in the overhead conveyor system and in the device, i.e., to deliver individual items to a specific conveyor track.

An overhead conveyor system with such a device essentially has the advantages of the device itself, to which reference is hereby made.

A method according to claim 12 essentially has the advantages of the device itself, to which reference is hereby made. Because individual items of a subsequent order, i.e. a second order, can be parked, i.e. temporarily stored, in a parking area while the individual items of the previous order are still being packed, the flexibility in conveying individual items is increased and the risk of individual items from different orders being mixed up at the packing station is prevented. In particular, it is possible to pack orders with a higher priority first, even though they arrived at the packing station after other orders. The prioritization of orders is, in particular, independent of the sequence of the individual items or the transport bags. Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous in large packing areas with many conveyor tracks.

A method according to claim 13 enables a simplified design of the device. Since the individual items are fed in an order-oriented manner, sorting within the device is unnecessary.

A sorting unit according to claim 14 simplifies the order-oriented feeding of the individual goods to the device.

Targeted dispensing of individual items according to claim 15 enables so-called target point sorting. The functional density of the device is increased. The method offers increased flexibility.

Both the features specified in the patent claims and the features specified in the following exemplary embodiments of a device according to the invention are suitable, either individually or in combination with one another, for further developing the subject matter of the invention. The respective combinations of features do not represent any limitation with regard to the further development of the subject matter of the invention, but are essentially merely exemplary in nature.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht einer Hängeförderanlage,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel für eine Hängeförderanlage,

Fig. 3

eine Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung der Vorrichtung in einer geänderten Arbeitsanordnung,

Fig. 4

eine Darstellung einer Vorrichtung gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 5

eine Ansicht eines Ausschnitts einer Hängeförderanlage mit einer Vorrichtung gemäß einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel.

Further features, advantages, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show:

Fig. 1

a schematic view of an overhead conveyor system,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a device according to a first embodiment for an overhead conveyor system,

Fig. 3

one Fig. 2 corresponding representation of the device in a modified working arrangement,

Fig. 4

a representation of a device according to a second embodiment,

Fig. 5

a view of a section of an overhead conveyor system with a device according to a third embodiment.

One in Fig. 1 The system, designated as a whole with 1, serves to convey and/or transport individual items 2. The system 1 comprises a warehouse 3 in which the individual items 2 are stored. The warehouse 3 can be designed as a manual warehouse or as an automated warehouse. The system 1 further has a goods receipt 4, through which individual items 2 are fed into the system 1, particularly from external sources. Returned goods can also be fed to the goods receipt 4.

The goods receiving area 4 is connected to the warehouse 3 by means of a conveyor system 5. The conveyor system 5 is, for example, a conveyor belt or a manual delivery of the individual goods 2, which may in particular also be present in containers in the goods receiving area 4, to the warehouse 3.

The system 1 further comprises a loading station 6, where the individual items are loaded into a carrying device 7, designed as a transport bag. The loading station 6 is connected to both the goods receiving area 4 and the warehouse 3, each independently via a conveyor system 5. The individual items 2 are conveyed from the warehouse 3 and/or the goods receiving area 4 to the loading station by means of the conveyor system 5.

It is also possible to design system 1 without conveyor technology between the loading station 6 and the goods receipt 4 or the warehouse 3. In this case, the individual goods 2 are transported from the goods receipt 4 and/or the warehouse 3 manually to the loading station 6, in particular by means of spring-loaded trolleys or pallet trucks.

The carrying devices 7 can each be individually transported using a roller adapter in a rail system. The carrying devices 7 are conveyed in a suspended manner. The system 1 is an overhead conveyor system. It is advantageous if the carrying devices 7 can each be uniquely identified using an identification device. For this purpose, the rolling adapter can each have an integrated RFID chip on which identification data is stored. The identification data can be captured using suitable reading devices, which are arranged in particular along the transport path of the overhead conveyor system 1, in order to track and control the conveying path of the carrying devices 7 along the overhead conveyor system 1.

For suspended conveying in the overhead conveyor system 1, the carrying devices 7 are each positively connected to a roller adapter. In particular, the carrying devices 7 each have a hook that can be hooked into a corresponding recess in the roller adapter. A coat hanger with a garment hanging from it can also be hooked into the recess in the roller adapter. In particular, each carrying device 7 serves to convey exactly one individual item of goods 2.

Details of the rolling adapter, its conveyance along a rail system and the hanging conveyance of a carrying device in the form of a transport bag are shown in EP 1 690 811 B1 described, to which explicit reference is hereby made.

Alternatively, the rolling adapter can be designed in the shape of a hook and can be hooked into a recess in the carrying device 7.

The overhead conveyor system 1 comprises a sorting unit 8, which serves to sort the carrying devices 7, i.e., to change the order of the individual items in the flow of goods. The sorting unit 8 can be designed in various ways. The sorting unit 8 can have several accumulation sections arranged in parallel and/or in series and/or one or more circulating carousels. Additionally or alternatively, the sorting unit 8 can be designed as a matrix sorter.

The sorting unit 8 serves, in particular, to assemble the individual goods 2 into logical groups. In particular, the individual goods 2 are combined into groups of individual goods 2 that form an order 15. Groups of individual goods 2 that are part of an order 15 can also be formed in the sorting unit 8.

The overhead conveyor system 1 comprises a central control unit 9, which is connected in particular to the reading devices along the overhead conveyor system 1. The signal connection can be wired or wireless. A wireless, radio-based signal connection is possible in Fig. 1 represented by a symbol 10 for radio transmission.

The overhead conveyor system 1 comprises a rail system 11, by means of which the carrying devices 7 are conveyed from the loading station 6 to the sorting unit 8 and through the sorting unit 8. The rail system 11 also serves to connect the sorting unit 8 to at least one unloading station 12.

In particular, several unloading stations 12 are provided. At the unloading station 12, the carrying devices 7 are automatically opened and unloaded, in particular by the individual goods 2 falling downward from the opened carrying device 7 due to gravity. An opening unit (not shown in detail) serves to automatically open the carrying devices 7 in the unloading station 12.

The individual items 2 unloaded at the unloading station 12 are delivered to a device, designated as a whole by 13, for the order-oriented provision of the individual items 2 of multiple orders. The device 13 is arranged adjacent to the unloading station 12 and a packing area with at least one packing station 14. In particular, the device 13 serves to convey and provide the individual items 2 from the unloading station 12 to the packing station 14.

At least one of the unloading stations 12 is permanently assigned to the packing area. The packing area has at least one packing station 14. In particular, several packing stations 14 are provided in the packing area. The number of unloading stations 12 per packing station 14 is at least one. Several unloading stations 12 can also be assigned to one packing station 14.

In particular, a design without a fixed unloading station assignment is also conceivable, allowing for a flexible number of operators per packing area. Adaptability to the individual throughput requirements of individual operators is increased. Adaptability to the order profile, particularly to characteristics that change the duration of the packing process, such as order size and value-added service, is improved.

The carrying devices 7 emptied in the unloading station 12 are returned via a return path 35 of the overhead conveyor system 1, closed by means of a closing unit (not shown), i.e. returned to their original state, and made available again, for example, at the loading station 6 as empty pockets for loading with individual goods 2.

At packing station 14, the individual items 2 of an order 15 are combined and packaged. Packing station 14 is connected to a goods issue 16 by conveyor technology. The orders 15 containing the individual items 2 can leave system 1 via goods issue 16. The orders 15 processed in system 1 can contain different items and different quantities of items. It is also conceivable for an order 15 to contain only a single individual item 2. Orders 15 from goods issue 16 can be transported away using external means of transport 17, such as trucks.

The following is based on the Fig. 2 and 3 a device 13 according to a first embodiment is explained in more detail.

The device 13 comprises four conveyor tracks 18. The conveyor tracks 18 are each designed as 90° bends in the form of a conveyor shaft and are essentially identical. Each conveyor track 18 has a feed opening 19 arranged at the top and a Fig. 2 each have a discharge opening 20 shown on the left. At the respective feed opening, individual items 2 can be unloaded from the carrying device 7 and delivered into the device 13. The respective discharge openings 20 of the conveyor tracks 18 are each connected to the associated feed opening 19. The individual items 2, which are fed to the device 13 at the feed opening 19, are conveyed to the discharge opening 20. According to the illustrated embodiment, the conveyance of the individual items 2 along the device 13 occurs automatically, i.e., due to gravity. A conveying direction 21 is defined along the conveyor track 18 from the feed opening 19 to the discharge opening 20.

An actuatable separating element 22 is arranged between the feed opening 19 and the discharge opening 20 along the conveying direction 21. For illustrative reasons, only the separating element 22 for the conveyor track 18 is shown, which in Fig. 2 and 3 shown in the bottom right corner. The other conveyor tracks 18 of the device 13 have corresponding separating elements 22. According to the embodiment shown, the separating element 22 is a pivoting flap, which in Fig. 2 in the open position. The separating element 22 is pivotally connected to the conveyor track 18 about a separating element pivot axis 23. The separating element 22 can be moved between the open position in Fig. 2 and the closed position in Fig. 3 be swiveled.

The conveyor tracks 18 are in accordance with Fig. 2 arranged in a 2x2 grid in a matrix-like manner. Accordingly, the feed openings 19 and the discharge openings 20 are each arranged in a 2x2 grid, i.e. in two rows and two columns. If several conveyor tracks 18 are provided, any arrangement of the conveyor tracks 18 is conceivable, for example in a single row or in any nxm grid. The feed openings 19 are oriented horizontally, i.e. in a horizontal plane, according to the embodiment shown. It is also conceivable that the feed openings 19 can be arranged with a feed inclination angle relative to the horizontal plane, wherein the feed inclination angle is in particular not more than 45°, in particular not more than 30°, in particular not more than 15° and in particular not more than 5°.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the discharge openings 20 are oriented vertically, i.e., in a vertical plane. The discharge openings can also be arranged with a discharge angle of inclination relative to the vertical plane, wherein the discharge angle of inclination is at most 45°, in particular at most 30°, in particular at most 15°, in particular at most 5°.

At each of the discharge openings 20, a stop element 24 in the form of a retaining strip is provided. The stop element 24 prevents the individual items 22 conveyed along the conveyor track 18 from inadvertently exiting the conveyor track 18. The stop elements 24 ensure that the individual items 2 are provided in a defined manner at the discharge opening 20. Instead of the retaining strips 24, a pivoting flap or a sliding flap can be arranged additionally or alternatively at the discharge opening 20, which closes the discharge opening 20.

It is also conceivable to provide a closing element at each of the feed openings 19 to prevent objects, in particular individual items 2, from accidentally entering the respective conveyor track 18. This prevents the risk of incorrect picking. Purely schematically, Fig. 2 A sensor 25 is shown, which serves to detect the individual items 2 delivered to the conveyor track 18. In particular, a sensor 25 is assigned to each conveyor track 18. The sensor 25 is in particular in signal communication with the central control unit 9. The sensor 25 can provide a control signal when all individual items 2 of an order have been delivered to the conveyor track 18.

In the closed position of the separating element 22, conveyance of individual items 2 to the discharge opening 20 is prevented. The separating element 22 divides the conveyor track 18 into a discharge area 26 facing the discharge opening 20 and a parking area 27 arranged between the feed opening 19 and the separating element 22. In the discharge area 26, the individual items 2 are prepared for discharge. Individual items 2, in particular of a subsequent order 15, are parked in the parking area 27. The separating element 22 prevents the individual items 2 of different orders 15 from being mixed together in the device 13.

According to the embodiment shown, the parking area 27 is integrated into the conveyor track.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown, a signaling element in the form of a display element 28 serving as a signal light is provided on the stop element 24 in the area of the dispensing opening 20. The display element 28 serves to indicate that the individual items 2 of a complete order 15 are available at the dispensing opening 20. The display element 28 can additionally or alternatively be designed as an acoustic display, for example in the form of a signal tone. It is also conceivable to use a display unit in the form of a screen that indicates which of the dispensing openings 20 is to be served next.

The following is based on the Fig. 2, 3 The operation of the device 13 is explained in more detail. The carrying devices 7 with individual items 2 are conveyed along the overhead conveyor system 1 to the unloading station 12 and opened automatically there. The individual items 2 fall due to gravity downwards out of the carrying device 7 and are delivered into the feed opening 19 of a conveyor track 18. The individual items 2 are conveyed by gravity in the conveyor track 18 along the conveying direction 21 to the delivery opening 20 and stopped at the stop element 24. The delivery of the individual items 2 into the conveyor track 18 is monitored by means of the sensor 25. As soon as all individual items 2 of the order 15 have been delivered into the conveyor track 18, a control signal is transmitted from the control unit 9 to the separating element 22, so that the separating element 22 moves from the Fig. 2 shown open position to the position shown in Fig. 3 shown closed position. The individual items 2 of the first order 15 are arranged in the delivery area 26 and are ready for removal at the packing station 14.

Further individual items 2 of a second order 15 can already be delivered to the conveyor track 18, even if the individual items 2 of the first order 15 have not yet been or have not yet been completely removed at the delivery opening 20. The individual items 2 of the second order 15 are parked, i.e. temporarily stored, in the parking area 27. When the individual items 2 of the first order 15 have been removed and packed at the packing station 14, the control unit 9 sends a release signal to the separating element 22, which then Fig. 2 shown open position, so that the individual items 2 of the second order 15 are conveyed to the discharge opening 20. For differentiation, the individual items 2 of the first order 15 are symbolized as circles and the individual items 2 of the second order 15 as triangles.

The device 13 enables an order-oriented provision of the individual goods 2. The individual goods 2 are unloaded according to the shown embodiment at the unloading station 12 in an order-oriented manner and the Device 13. This means that first all individual items 2 of the first order 15 are delivered to device 13 before the next individual items 2 of the subsequent order 15 are delivered.

In a further embodiment not shown, the conveyor track 18 can also be designed as a spiral slide.

The following is based on reference to Fig. 4 A second embodiment of a device is described. Structurally identical parts are given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, to the description of which reference is hereby made. Structurally different but functionally similar parts are given the same reference numerals with an a suffix.

In the device 13a, the conveyor track 18a is essentially Y-shaped with a feed opening 19 and two discharge openings 20. The conveyor track 18a has a switch area 29. The separating element 22a is arranged in the switch area 29. The separating element 22a is designed as a switch tongue, which is arranged to pivot about the pivot axis 23a between two end positions. In the Fig. 4 In the arrangement of the separating element 22a shown, the individual goods 2 are conveyed into the left branch of the conveyor track 18a to the discharge opening 20 shown on the left. In the correspondingly different arrangement of the separating element 22a, which is shown in Fig. 4 As indicated by dashed lines, the individual items 2 are conveyed into the right branch of the conveyor track 18a to the discharge opening 20 shown on the right. Fig. 4 In the arrangement shown, the right branch of the conveyor track 18a, which is separated from the feed opening 19 by the separating element 22a, represents the parking area 27a. The branch of the conveyor track 18a released by the separating element 22a forms the discharge area 26a.

The device 13a according to Fig. 4 can be arranged such that the conveying direction 21 is oriented substantially vertically, i.e. both the feed opening 19 and the discharge openings 20 are each arranged in a horizontal plane.

Alternatively, it is also possible for the conveying direction 21a to be oriented horizontally. Accordingly, the feed opening 19 and the discharge openings 20 are oriented in a vertical plane. In this case, the conveyor track can be implemented, for example, by a driven belt, onto which the individual goods 2 are placed and conveyed by the belt.

In the following, with reference to Fig. 5 A third embodiment of the invention is described. Structurally identical parts are given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, to the description of which reference is hereby made. Structurally different but functionally similar parts are given the same reference numerals with a suffix "b."

The essential difference compared to the first embodiment is that each device 13b comprises two conveyor tracks 18b, wherein the individual items 2 of different orders 15 are delivered to the first conveyor track or the second conveyor track 18b. Thus, one conveyor track 18b, at which the individual items 2 are delivered, forms the delivery area 28b, and the other conveyor track 18b, at which the individual items 2 are temporarily buffered, i.e. parked, for delivery at a later time, forms the parking area 27b. A separating element is dispensable in this embodiment. At the unloading station 12, a Overhead conveyor technology provided with a rail system 11, along which transport pockets 7 are conveyed suspended on roller adapters 30. The unloading station 12 is arranged such that the transport pockets 7 are guided above the feed openings 19 of the conveyor tracks 18b. Due to the automatic opening of the transport pockets 7, the individual goods 2 can fall into the feed openings 19 provided for this purpose. The unloading of the individual goods 2 from the transport pockets 7 takes place in particular during the transport of the transport pockets 7. In particular, it is not intended that the transport pockets 7 be stopped for unloading the individual goods 2. The device 13b is also referred to as a packing wall.

The packing wall is typically operated by several operators 32, each operator 32 having a permanently assigned work area 34. The work area 34 is defined for each operator 32 in particular by a fixed assignment of discharge openings 20. A typical work area 34 may, for example, comprise six discharge openings 20, which are arranged in Fig. 5 are shown in grey.

It is also conceivable that the respective work area is defined flexibly. A flexible definition of the respective work area is possible, in particular, depending on the individual packing performance of the operator 32 and/or other distinguishing criteria, particularly those related to individual goods. Such criteria include, for example, the value of the goods, the parcel service provider, the order size, and/or the shipping container.

The respective conveyor tracks 18b form so-called target points. By selectively delivering the individual goods 2 to the conveyor tracks 18b, a so-called target point sorting can be carried out. In particular, it is not necessary for the individual goods 2 to be transported to the devices 13b in an order-oriented manner. The individual goods 2 can, in particular, be transported to the unloading station 12 completely unsorted.

The device 13b has a plurality of conveyor tracks 18b arranged in two rows such that two discharge openings 20 are arranged one above the other. In the area of the discharge openings 20, a packing table 31 is provided at the packing station, which facilitates operators 32 in packing the individual goods 2 removed from the discharge opening 20 into a shipping container 33 in the form of a shipping carton.

The unloaded, emptied transport bags 7 are returned via the return track 35. The fully packed shipping container 33 can be transported to the goods exit 16 by means of a transport infrastructure 36. Instead of the transport infrastructure 36, which is designed as an automatic belt, a manual removal to the goods exit 16 can also be provided.

At the packing wall 13b, the individual items 2 are collected in the conveyor tracks 18b, which function as destination points. The destination point is stationary. To ensure reliable feeding of the individual items 2 from the transport pockets 7 to the conveyor tracks 18, slides and/or spiral tracks can be used.

As soon as all individual items 2 of an order 15 are present in a conveyor track 18b, or in the case of split orders, a partial order is present, this is signaled to the operator 32 by means of the display element 28. The division of an order can be based on the total volume of the order, i.e. the number of individual items, and/or on other criteria such as the fragility of an individual item. Distributing the individual items of an order 15 onto multiple conveyor tracks 18b, i.e., target locations, is advantageous to avoid damage to the individual parts. In particular, the back pressure within a conveyor track is reduced. The operator 32 can remove the individual items 2 of the order 15 via the discharge opening 20 and pack them at the packing table 31, converting them into the packed order 15. The conveyor tracks 18b according to the packing wall can also be additionally equipped with a separating element, as explained for the first embodiment.

At packing station 14, additional non-pouchable individual items 37 can be provided using an additional infrastructure 38. This expands the functionality of the overhead conveyor system 1, since the orders 15 can also include non-pouchable individual items 37.

The essential advantages of the device according to the invention are that the complexity of the overhead conveyor technology of the overhead conveyor system 1 is reduced. The space requirement at the packing station 14 is reduced. The provision of non-pouchable individual items 37 is simplified due to the reduced space requirement. It is particularly conceivable for the non-pouchable individual items 37 to be provided in a separate, specially designed packing wall. The sequence of the two material flows of pocketable and non-pouchable individual items does not need to be coordinated. The provision of the goods at the packing station 14 can be flexible and independent.

This results in a flexible design of the number of operators 32. This results in a flexible design of the work areas 34 on the packing wall 13b.

The height requirement at packing station 14 is reduced. Because the overhead conveyor technology in the area of packing station 14 can be designed very compactly, its connection to other transport infrastructures, in particular the transport infrastructure 36 for the removal of fully packed orders 15 and the additional infrastructure 38 for the provision of non-pouchable individual goods 37, is simplified.

This results in a flexible design with regard to the number of packing stations 14.

The conveying capacity of the overhead conveyor system can be optimally utilized. The device according to the invention is suitable for unloading more than 250 individual items 2 per hour, in particular more than 500, in particular more than 1000, in particular more than 2000, in particular more than 2500, and in particular more than 3000 carrying devices 7 per hour in the unloading area 12 and for providing the individual items 2 at the delivery openings 20, which are then packed into orders 15 by the operators 32.

The packaging material can be provided in a more accessible manner at the packing station 14. The device 13b can be combined with other technologies, particularly when packing individual items, in particular pick-by-light, pick-by-voice, and pick-by-vision.

Claims (15)

Device for the order-oriented provision of individual goods (2) of a plurality of orders (15) at a packing station (14) of an overhead conveyor system (1), wherein the device (13; 13a; 13b) comprises a. a conveyor device (11, 30) for the overhead conveying of the individual goods (2) b. an unloading station (12) for unloading the individual goods (2), c. a conveyor track (18; 18a; 18b) with i. a feed opening (19) for feeding the individual goods (2) unloaded at the unloading station (12), ii. a delivery opening (20) connected to the feed opening (19) by means of conveyor technology for providing individual items (2) of a first order (15) at the packing station (14), d. a parking area (27; 27a; 27b) for parking individual goods (2) of a second order (15) at the packing station (14). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the parking area (27; 27a; 27b) is arranged in a second conveyor track (18b) which is designed with a second feed opening (19) for feeding the individual goods (2) of the second order (15) and with a second discharge opening (20) connected to the second feed opening (19) in terms of conveyor technology for providing the individual goods (2) of the second order at the packing station (14). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a signal element (28) for signaling that the individual items (2) of a complete order (15) are provided at the delivery opening (20). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a separating element (22; 22a) for separating the individual goods (2) of different orders (15) is arranged along the conveyor track (18; 18a; 18b). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a plurality of conveyor tracks (18; 18b), each of which has in particular a feed opening (19) and a discharge opening (20), wherein the feed openings (19) and/or the discharge openings (20) are arranged in a matrix-like manner, in particular in rows and columns. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a stop element (24) for stopping the conveyance of the individual goods (2) is arranged at the discharge opening (20). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed opening (19) is arranged with a feed inclination angle relative to a horizontal plane of at most 45°, in particular at most 30°, in particular at most 15°, in particular at most 5°, and is in particular horizontally oriented. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the discharge opening (20) is arranged with a discharge inclination angle relative to a vertical plane of at most 45°, in particular at most 30°, in particular at most 15°, in particular at most 5°, and is in particular vertically oriented. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor track (18; 18a; 18b) is inclined at least in sections relative to the horizontal. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a sensor (25) for detecting the individual goods (2) delivered to the conveyor track (18; 18a; 18b). Overhead conveyor system (1) with a. a device (13; 13a; 13b) according to one of the preceding claims, b. a packing station (14) for packing the individual goods (2) provided in an order-oriented manner by means of the device (13; 13a; 13b). Method for the order-oriented provision of individual goods (2) of several orders (15) at a packing station (14) of an overhead conveyor system (1) with the method steps - Suspended conveying of the individual goods (2) by means of a conveying device (11, 30) to an unloading station (12), - Unloading of individual goods (2) at the unloading station (12), - feeding the individual goods (2) unloaded at the unloading station (12) via a feed opening (19) into a conveyor track (18; 18a; 18b), - conveying the individual goods (2) along the conveyor track (18; 18a; 18b), - Providing individual goods (2) of a first order at a delivery opening (20) at the packing station (14), - Packing of individual goods (2) of the first order at the packing station (14), - Transporting the packed first order from the packing station (14), - parking of individual goods (2) of a second order in a parking area (27; 27a; 27b), - Providing the individual goods (2) of the second order at the packing station (14) after the packed first order has been removed. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the individual goods (2) are fed to the feed opening (19) in an order-oriented manner. Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized by an order-oriented pre-sorting in a sorting unit (8) of the overhead conveyor system (1). Method according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized by sorting the individual goods (2) by selectively delivering the individual goods (2) to different conveyor tracks (18; 18b).

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